Mediating role of early maladaptive schemas on the relationship between parenting styles and marital problems

Early maladaptive schemas are developed through childhood experiences, especially those of parents-children. Thoughts, behaviors, and interpersonal relathionships are influenced by these schemas throughout the life. Couple's relationship are determined by parenting styles as well as early maladaptive schemas. The aim of this study was to examine the mediating role of early maladaptive schemas on the relationship between parenting styles and marital problems. A total of 378 volunteers (182 men, 196 women) from Tehran general population participated in this study. All participants were asked to complete Parental Authority Questionnaire (PAQ), Young Schema Questionnaire-Short Form (YSQ-SF), and Golombok Rust Inventory of Marital State (GRIMS). Authoritative parenting style showed a significant negative association with marital problems while authoritarian, permissive and neglectful parenting styles showed significant positive associations with marital problems. Early maladaptive schemas also showed a significant positive association with marital problems. Analysis of the data revealed that early maladaptive schemas mediated the relationship between parenting styles and marital problems. Based on the results of the present study, it can be concluded that some kind of the parenting styles might develop early maladaptive schemas. These parenting styles then provide couples and families with problems through the early maladaptive schemas later on.